Rotary hydraulic torque converter



Jul 31, 1951 J. JANDASEK 2,562,463

ROTARY HYDRAULIC TORQUE CONVERTER Original Filed Dec. 23, 1939 62 E if 72 5'2 5'2 4 e r in V IN V EN TOR. none k Jaziaq; 6%,

Patented July 31, 1951 ROTARY HYDRAULIC TORQUE CONVERTER Joseph J andasek, Highland Park, Micln, assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Original application December 23, 1939, Serial No.

310,785, now Patent No. 2,427,458, dated September 16, 1947. Divided and this application January 31, 1944, Serial No. 520,425

This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly to fluid transmissions operative automatically as torque converters or as fluid clutches dependent on variations of load transmitted.

An object of this invention is to provide a fluid transmission having angularly movable gates adapted to be locked against rotation to operate the transmission as a torque converter, and to rotate in the power transmitting fluid circuit in the direction of fluid flow to function as aux iliary turbine members when the transmission is operating as a fluid clutch.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a transmission having angularly movable gates controlled by suitable motion transmitting means to vary the angular relation of the gates to function as a reaction member or as an auxiliary turbine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid transmission having a rotatable housing enclosing cooperating impeller and turbine members wherein the housing may be operably connected to the driven shaft to transmit power thereto when the transmission is functioning as a fluid clutch, and to be locked against rotation 4 Claims. (Cl. 60-54) when the transmission is functioning as a torqueconverter.

Still a further object of the invention resides,

in theprovision of coupling means operated by slight rotation of a member having fluid deflect fluid flow, and in another position to operate as vide for continued regeneration of power to the driving shaft when the speed of rotation of the driven member increases relative to the speed of rotation ofthe driving shaft.

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, submitted for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fluid transmission embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the angular relation of the guide wheel gates when the transmission is operating as a torque converter.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the position of the gates when the transmission is operating asa fluid clutch.

, pose of description-and not of limitation.

,The fluid transmission illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a driving shaft ill having thereon an impeller hub or web I2, and the web i2v has thereon a plurality of spaced generally radially auxiliary turbine vanes adapted to absorb energy from circulating power transmitting fluid.

Yet another object is to provide a rotatable housing having angularly movable fluid deflecting members wherein motion transmitting means are provided to operably connect the housing to a stationary member or to a driven member in response to variations of fluid reaction in the power transmitting fluid circuit to operate the transmission as a torque converter extended impeller vanes I l secured'to an impeller shroud l6 and cooperating with the impeller web l2 to provide a power transmit fluid circuit i8. 7 v

A driven shaft 20 preferably axially aligned .with the driving shaft in hassecured thereon a radially extended turbine web 22 having a plurality of spaced turbine vanes 24 secured to -a turbine shroud 26, and cooperating with the turbine web 22 to provide a turbine channel 21 aligned with the impeller channel l8 and operative to absorb energy from the circulating-fluid and to'deliver it to the driven shaft 20.

- spaced vanes 28 fixed to shafts 30 journaled in the web 22 and the shroud 26. Spaced stops 32 preferably positioned in the turbine web 22 are provided to limit the angular movement of the vanes 20.

The turbine is provided with a plurality of A housing 38 receives the driving and driven shafts l8 and 28. The housing has a channel 38 interposed between a portion of the housing 38 and a shroud 48. The channel 38 is aligned with the outlet of the turbine channel 21 and the inlet of the impeller channel l8 and cooperates therewith to provide a power transmitting fluid circult.

Gates 42 fixed to shafts 44 journaled in the wall of the housing 38 and shroud 48 are adjacent the outlet of the turbine channel 21, and stops 48 serve to limit .the angular movement of the ates 42.

Main gates 48 fixed to shafts 58 journaled in the housing 38 and in the shroud member 48 are angularly movable between spaced stops 52 and 53 as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

An auxiliary turbine includes a combined hub and web 55 and a shroud 51 supporting spaced vanes 59 fixed to shafts 8| journaled on the web and shroud. This auxiliary turbine receives energy from the power transmitting fluid, and transmits it through a one-way driving means83 to the driving shaft l8. Spaced stop members 85 adjacent the trailing edges of the vanes 59 serve to limit angular movement of the vanes 59. Energy is thus absorbed in the auxiliary turbine passage and is redirected to the driving shaft II) to produce a regenerative force to increase the applied power. The angular movement of the vanes 59 causes them to deflect the fluid in response to variations of fluid reaction and accordingly the regenerative function is therefore continued longer as the turbine or driven shaft speed increases than is possible where non-pivotal blades are employed in a regenerative member.

The shafts 58 to which the main gates 48 are secured project through the housing 38 and are provided with pinions 54 in mesh with an internal ring gear 58 on a member 58 mounted for oscillation on a carrier 88 relative to the housing 38 so as to vary the angular relation of the gates 48 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The blades 28 on the turbine, the blades 42 and 48 on the guide wheel and the blades 59 on the auxiliary turbine swing in the fluid circuit in response to changes of the fluid flow due to different speeds and load ratios.

When the gates 48 engage the stops 52 as illustrated in Fig. 2 fluid is deflected in the direction of the arrow 81 and the transmission functions as a torque converter to transmit multiplied torque to drive the driven shaft at reduced speed. When torque multiplication is no longer required to transmit the load to which the driven shaft 28 is subjected, the fluid reaction in the guide wheel exerts a force on the flexible gates 48 tending to rotate the housing 38 in the forward direction as illustrated by the arrow 89 in Fig. 3, whereupon the gates 48 are actuated through the gearing hereinafter described to move into engagement with the stops 58 as illustrated in Fig. 3 whereupon the fluid is deflected in the direction of the arrow H and the device functions as a fluid clutch to transmit power with substantially no torque multiplication. During operation as a fluid clutch, the guide wheel member is operably connected through the one-way driving means to the driven shaft to function as an auxiliary turbine.

The member 58 has thereon an external ring gear 52 in mesh with a pinion 84 fixed to a shaft 88 journaled in brackets 88 on the housing 35. The shaft 88 has thereon a pinion'18 in mesh with a gear 12 mounted on a shaft 14 on the housing 88. The gear 12 also meshes with a gear 16 carried by a sleeve 11 journaled on an axially extended portion 19 of the housing 88 on the driven shaft 28. A gear 88 is flxed to the sleeve 11 as by means of a key 82, and a braking means such for example as a. pawl 84 carried by a shaft 88 secured in a stationary member 88 may be provided to lock the gear 88 and housing 88 against reverse rotation when the transmission is functioning as a torque converter.

A gear 98 on the sleeve 11 is operably connected to the driven shaft 28 through a one-way driving mechanism such for example as a pawl 82 mounted on a shaft 94 carried by a flange 98 secured to the driven shaft 28.

The operation is as follows. Power applied to the driving shaft l8 rotates the impeller to energize fluid in the impeller channel l8 and direct it to the turbine channel 21. Energy absorbed in the turbine channel is directed through the turbine web 22 to the driven shaft 28.

At reduced speed, the fluid reaction exerted on the main gates 48 of the guide wheel exerts a force thereon tending to rotate the guide wheel backwardly. The gates 48 move into engagement with the stop 52 as illustrated in Fig. 2 to rectify the fluid flow and redirect it in such a manner as to afford the transmission of power with torque multiplication.

The auxiliary turbine vanes 59 absorb a portion of the energy from the power transmitting fluid and direct it through the web 55 and oneway driving means 63 to increase the power applied to the driving shaft l8. The auxiliary turbine vanes 59 also direct the fluid to enter the impeller channel I8 at an appropriate angle to minimize fluid turbulence.

When the transmission is functioning as a torque converter to transmit power at reduced speed with torque multiplication, the one-way braking means illustrated by the pawl 84 between the stationary member 88 and the gear 88 functions through the sleeve 11, gear 18. gear 12, pinion 18, shaft 68, pinion 84, ring gear 82 on the member 88, pinion 54, the blades 48 and stop 52 carried by the housing 38 to hold the housing 38 against rotation in the backward direction.

When the ratio between the power applied to the driving shaft 18 and the power to which the driven shaft 28 is subjected decreases to such a point that torque multiplication is no longer necessary to carry the load, the fluid reaction in the power transmitting fluid circuit changes angularly to such an extent that the housing 88 rotates slightly in the forward direction. This slight forward rotation of the housing is effective to release the one-way braking means 84 hold- :ing the housing 38 against backward rotation and is effective through the train of gears inter- 3 posed between the shafts 58 to which the gates 48 are fixed and one-way clutch 92 to move the gates 48 angularly into engagement with the stop 53 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The power transmitting fluid is then deflected in the direction of the arrow II of Fig. 3, as the housing 38 rotates in the direction of the arrow 89 to absorb energy from the power transmitting fluid and direct it through the train of gears hereinabove recited to rotate the sleeve 11 on the driven shaft 28. Rotation of the sleeve 11 is effective through the ring gear 98 and one-way driving means 92 to transmit power through the flange 88 to the driven shaft 28. It will be noted that the gates 48 are such that they bow slightly as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 to transmit power with minimum fluid turbulence.

It will be noted that the rotatable housing 36 is locked against, reverse rotation when the transmission is operating as a torque converter to rectify the fluid flow and direct the power transmitting fluid from the turbine to the impeller in such a manner that power may be transmitted with torque multiplication. When the need for torque multiplication no longer exists the rotatable housing 36 is released to rotate with the impeller and turbine members whereupon the guide wheel member functions as an auxiliary turbine to assist the main turbine in the transmission of power to the driven shaft 20.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 310,785, flledDecember 23, 1939, which matured into Patent No. 2,427,458, dated September 16, 1947.

I claim;

1. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, an impeller on the driving shaft and a turbine on the driven shaft cooperating with one another to provide a power transmitting fluid circuit, a guide wheel having thereon fluid deflecting gates movable angularly in the circuit, a stationary member, a train of gears and a braking means coupled between the gates and the stationary member effective to hold the uide wheel against backward rotation so as to rectify the fluid flow and transmit power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft with torque multiplication when the transmission is operatin as a torque converter, and means under control of the gates effective to lock the guide wheel to the driven shaft so that it may function as an auxiliary turbine when the transmission is op erating as a fluid coupling.

2. In a fluid transmission a driving shaft, an impeller on the driving shaft, a driven shaft, a turbine on the driven shaft, the impeller and turbine cooperating with one another to provide a power transmitting fluid circuit, a stationary member, a rotatable housing on the shafts, fluid deflecting blades carried by the housing and movable angularly in the fluid circuit, a gearing system connected to the blades, a one-way drive connecting the gearing system to the driven shaft, and a one-way brake connecting the gearing system to the stationary member for operation of the transmission as a fluid coupling.

3. A fluid transmission comprising driving and driven shafts, an impeller on the driving shaft, a turbine on the driven shaft, a rotatable housing having therein angularly movable fluid deflection blades cooperating with the impeller and turbine to provide apower transmitting fluid circuit, a stationary member, gear means controlled by the blades, motion transmitting means including a train of gears carried by the rotatable housing and actuated by the gear means, one-way braking means between said train of gears and the stationary member effective to *lock the housing against backward rotation to operate the transmission as a torque converter, and one-way driving means between said train of gears and the driven shaft effective to lock the housing to the driven shaft so as to utilize the blades as an auxiliary turbine when the transmission is operating as a fluid coupling.

4. In a fluid transmission, driving and driven shafts, an impeller on the driving shaft, a turbine on the driven shaft, a rotatable housing having fluid deflecting blades movable angularly between fixed positions, and cooperating with the impeller and turbine members to provide a. power transmitting fluid circuit, a stationary member, motion transmitting means including a train of gears carriedby the housing and controlled by the angular movement of the blades, braking means between said train of gears and the stationary member effective to lock the housing against backward rotation so as to operate the transmission as a torque converter, and one-way driving means between said train of gears and the driven shaft operative to lock'the housing to the driven shaft for forward rotation so as to operate said blades as an auxiliary turbine when the transmission is operating as a fluid coupling, the fluid deflecting blades assuming one of said fixed positions when the transmission is operating as a torque converter and being moved to said other fixed position by reaction of the fluid in the circuit to release the braking means and to engage the one-way driving means between the train of gears and the driven shaft.

JOSEPH JANDASEK.

narnnnnons crrnn The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

